Wandernde Lieder am Ende der Welt

Kapitel 23

"He left and never contacted Xiaona again, I'm sure of that."

Otherwise, Wu Bingbing thought to herself, it was that Hong Kong art dealer Chen Zhongjie who helped her escape.

As she was leaving Ma Yuan's house, Wu Bingbing once again examined the framed photograph hanging on the wall. She didn't tell Ma Yuan the true identity of the girl in the photo. Thinking of his unwavering devotion to his deceased wife, his love for her, and the photograph on the wall, along with everything else in the studio unchanged, deeply moved her, an outsider. At the same time, she felt a pang of sadness, because the person he loved seemed like a dream, not only not belonging to him in body and soul, but even her name was a lie… yet he never doubted his feelings for her…

Just as she was thinking this, Wu Bingbing saw a movement in the frame. Wang Xiaoyue in the photo lowered her head, and two lines of tears flowed from her eyes, running down the photo, overflowing the frame, and falling to the ground with a soft patter...

Chapter Twenty-Three

Facing the thief and seeing the longevity lock shattered beyond recognition, she suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of unease. A voice whispered in her ear: "Charge! Kill him!" She picked up a rock, tucked it behind her back, and walked straight towards him…

That night, Wu Bingbing returned to the hotel very late. The findings of her investigation and the longevity lock she had obtained made her exceptionally excited. Even though it was nearly midnight, she couldn't resist calling Zhang Qun. Zhang Qun was already asleep, but when he heard her say she had found the longevity lock, his mumbling voice suddenly grew louder: "Great! You're amazing! Master Hongtai was asking about you yesterday!"

Wu Bingbing said, "I'll book my ticket tomorrow and take a boat back from Chongqing. Since it's on the way, I'm thinking of visiting Huang Qing's house. I've found out that Huang Qing was Wang Xiaoyue's student, and she studied painting under her until graduation. But I don't understand whether Huang Qing died from an accidental fall off a cliff, or was killed by Wang Xiaoyue? Maybe if I find out another day, I'll understand. What do you think?"

Zhang Qun said, "If, as you say, Wang Xiaoyue treated Huang Qing very well beforehand, taking her home and even having her sketch, and even her husband thought they looked alike, then it's clear that she had ulterior motives and was prepared in advance. She wanted to use her, and in the end, she did use her. There are two possibilities for Huang Qing's death: one is that she did indeed fall off a cliff while painting and died, and Wang Xiaoyue happened to be there and saw this opportunity to disguise the dead Huang Qing as herself, while she took the opportunity to escape; the other is that she deliberately plotted to murder Huang Qing, creating the illusion of an accident and a deception to escape herself."

"If it was an accidental death, it would be too much in line with her wishes. It just so happens to be during the vacuum period between Huang Qing's graduation and her departure from school and before she was assigned to a new unit. Apart from her family, no one would have been looking for her whereabouts. What's even more suspicious is that only Wang Xiaoyue was with her at the time."

“Yes!” Zhang Qun said, “When I went to Huang Qing’s house to investigate, her sister said that Huang Qing was waiting for her job assignment at home. Someone called to invite her to go out and paint. You see, she had already graduated, and her classmates were scattered. Everyone was busy with job assignments. If the teacher hadn’t been plotting something, she wouldn’t have chosen this time to invite someone out to paint, and for several days at that.”

Wu Bingbing said, "It seems she killed Huang Qing. But why did she still use the name Huang Qing when she went abroad? She could have used the name Chen Xiaona, couldn't she?"

“That’s not how it works,” Zhang Qun said. “First of all, the name Chen Xiaona is no longer safe. Chen Xiaona killed Yang Li, and she may have killed Professor Ouyang as well. Ma Yuan has also learned more and more of her secrets, and that’s what she’s trying to escape. If she continues to use this name to go abroad, everyone will keep an eye on her, and going abroad will be pointless. Her goal is to get rid of the identity of Chen Xiaona. Secondly, I saw from her exit registration form that she went abroad under the guise of visiting and exchanging ideas. These require professionals, and the approving department will also send a letter to the school to investigate. As a teacher, she has the means to obtain the certificate directly from the school, but she can only get the school office to stamp it under the pretense of helping a student. So she has to use Huang Qing’s name. Also, she has to obtain this certificate in advance… That’s easy to do. She can completely deceive Huang Qing, pretending that she is going abroad with her, or helping her get a guarantor to go abroad, etc.”

Wu Bingbing asked, "Does the Public Security Bureau know about Chen Zhongjie helping her go abroad?"

Zhang Qun said, "As far as I know, because of Chen Zhongjie's death, the public security authorities only investigated his basic information. He lived alone in Hong Kong and knew many people, but none of them knew anything about his private life."

She went abroad eight years ago, which I only discovered when I checked her records; the police, of course, didn't know. The police only obtained some circumstantial evidence proving that Chen Zhongjie met Jiang Lan three years ago at an art exhibition in Harbin. Other painters were present at the time, and they said that from then on, this Hong Kong art dealer began seeing Jiang Lan, eventually living together until the murder occurred.

“I think it’s like this,” Wu Bingbing quickly said, “At the Harbin art exhibition, people saw Chen Zhongjie and Jiang Lan getting close. It wasn’t their first meeting; it was a chance encounter between Chen Zhongjie and a woman he once loved after many years. He had personally sent this woman, formerly named Huang Qing, abroad, and she had never contacted him since. But by then, Huang Qing had become Jiang Lan, and she wouldn’t acknowledge her past. But Chen Zhongjie believed it was her, so he tracked her down, investigated her, and followed her all the way south…”

She eventually had no choice but to accept him, and they lived together. As for her later killing him, there may be many reasons, but it was certainly related to him knowing her true identity.

Zhang Qun said, "Yes, if Chen Zhongjie uses this to control her, she will definitely rebel in the long run."

From Wang Xiaoyue to Chen Xiaona, then to Huang Qing, and finally to Jiang Lan, her carefully orchestrated escape was so ingenious, meticulous, and flawless. She traveled from Henan to Hunan, then to Sichuan, and meticulously planned her trip abroad. Upon returning, she had a new identity, a new name, and hid in City E of Province A in the south, starting a new life, thinking no one would recognize her. Didn't Wang Moumou also say she didn't want to travel out of town for work? Going to Harbin for an art exhibition was the only time; she must have regretted it. Because Chen Zhongjie's discovery posed a threat to her. Chen Zhongjie knew her past and used it to control and possess her, both her paintings and her body… This fueled her hatred. When the pressure mounted, just like in the past, she would try to escape; she would kill again. She was adept at this, confident she would succeed again. Perhaps she was lucky, thinking this was the last time, and that everything would be fine from then on, her performance art becoming even more perfect. However, it was this very moment that she utterly destroyed herself…

After finishing her call with Zhang Qun, it was already late at night. Wu Bingbing once again took the longevity lock out of her bag and examined it carefully. She recited the incantation on it several times, finding it increasingly incomprehensible. Before going to sleep, she placed it under her pillow. That night, she had a long dream, dreaming of the misty mountains, the old stone house, and the oleander grove. The dream was filled with fragments of Wang Xiaoyue's life from childhood to adulthood, playing out in her mind like a movie…

The next day, Wu Bingbing chose her route home: first, she would take a bus to Chongqing, then a boat from Chongqing to Yichang, a train from Yichang to Liuzhou, and finally a bus to Guangzhou, before returning to City E from Guangzhou. She arranged her journey this way because she had unknowingly spent almost all the money she had. After careful consideration, she knew she had to use her remaining funds to get home. Although she would pass through Wushan County, where Huang Qing's family lived, she didn't plan to stop there. Besides, disembarking there would delay her by at least two more days.

When buying tickets at Chongqing Port, I was greeted by a bustling scene. Tour companies were everywhere, tour guides were in droves, banners and signs were hanging everywhere, and loudspeakers blared out calls to attract customers—the second Yangtze River dam closure was imminent, the Three Gorges scenery was about to disappear—the Three Gorges landscape was about to vanish—the original Three Gorges tour—the farewell tour—the one-of-a-kind tour—businesses wanted to squeeze every last penny out of every visitor.

Wu Bingbing hadn't come for the Three Gorges cruise. Looking at the boat tickets to Yichang, the prices were shockingly high: the five-star Royal Princess cost 2300 yuan, the four-star Yangtze Angel 1600 yuan, and even a regular cruise ship without stars cost 500 yuan. She had less than 800 yuan left. While hesitating by the roadside, she overheard a group of people talking about cargo ships that were offering cheaper tickets. She decided to follow them. In this way, she boarded a cargo ship for only 300 yuan.

The ship was laden with containers of grain and flour. Once aboard, it was discovered that so many people were trying to save money by taking this cargo ship. They were clearly tourists too, carrying large bags and carrying binoculars and cameras around their necks. The elderly even used canes, and the women wore flat shoes. As the ship sailed away, everyone was overjoyed, laughing and shouting on the deck: "Goodbye Chongqing! I've been to the Three Gorges!"—A university student had already set up his easel, sketching the receding Chongqing port with just a few strokes. Bingbing was also moved; she stood there watching the student paint. She felt that this ordinary life was warmer, more comfortable, and more real than traveling on a luxury cruise ship.

The ship didn't have cabins or berths; there were only many bunk beds in the lower deck cabins where passengers could rest. Bingbing had a vivid dream all night and was very sleepy, so she lay down on one of the bunk beds. Next to her was a thin, dark-skinned young man with a mole on his chin. He sat there staring at her like a monkey, making it impossible for her to fall asleep. So she went out onto the deck for a walk. After wandering around for a while, she watched the college student painting. Seeing the writing on his tracksuit, she knew he was from the Xidu Academy of Fine Arts.

As Wu Bingbing looked at the painting, she said, "The concept is quite simple, and the composition is also good, but the background colors are a bit dark. Wouldn't it be even better if you added some highlights?"

The boy glanced up at her, then lowered his head to touch up the color as she instructed. He quickly exclaimed in surprise, "Oh dear, I always felt something was off, I just couldn't get it right, now I know what the problem was!"

Bingbing was also proud of herself. Her relationship with Zhang Qun, coupled with her deepening understanding of Jiang Lan, greatly improved her appreciation of art. Then she started chatting with him. Looking at the young man in front of her—slender, fair-skinned, wearing elegant gold-rimmed glasses, like a scholar straight out of a 1930s film—she felt a surge of attraction towards him.

Soon, she learned his name was Peng Lin, a member of the Tujia ethnic group, from Badong, a true native of the Three Gorges region. Because his uncle was the first mate on this ship, he would take the ship home every month, sketching the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, especially the Three Gorges scenery. Bingbing also told him that she was still in university, a year ahead of him, studying archaeology, and that she was returning from visiting relatives in Chengdu.

At this point in the conversation, Bingbing suddenly remembered something, turned around, and ran back to the cabin. She was relieved to see that her travel bag on the wooden bed was intact and the lock on the outside hadn't been touched. After thinking for a moment, she opened the large bag, took out a square shoulder bag, put the longevity lock and Wang Xiaoyue's photo and information inside, and then walked out with the bag on her back. Peng Lin saw her, smiled knowingly, and said, "You need to keep all your valuables with you. Be careful of those Fengdu water ghosts on cargo ships." Bingbing asked what Fengdu water ghosts were. Peng Lin explained that they were thieves from Fengdu who frequently went to the docks and mingled with cargo ships to steal things. Bingbing smiled and said, "It's alright, I'm almost out of money, there's nothing left to steal." Peng Lin added, "You look very good standing there with that bag. Shall I draw your portrait?"

Then he painted her portrait, spending several hours on it. As dusk approached, they ran to the bow of the boat to watch the sunset, the beautiful sight of the sun setting behind the mountains, its radiant light overflowing. At this moment, the distant mountains were like dark eyebrows, and the nearby water was shrouded in mist. The boat, like a giant brush, sped across the ink painting, casting splashes of white ink across the long, silken river surface, creating a unique and charming scene. Even when it was completely dark, the two were still chatting on the deck, their enthusiasm undiminished.

Although the cabin was crowded and people were still talking late into the night, Wu Bingbing lay peacefully asleep on the wooden plank bed. She used her large bag as a pillow, and clutched a small bag containing a longevity lock, sleeping very comfortably. She began to dream again, still dreaming of Wang Xiaoyue's life from childhood to adulthood—fragmented scenes, faces appearing and disappearing, sometimes here, sometimes there, like randomly flipping through childhood photos, scattered memories of her past, disjointed yet forming a coherent whole. Finally, she even dreamed that Jiang Lan came to find her, flying alongside the ship she was on, launching another attack on her from outside the porthole…

The next morning, the ship arrived in Fengjie, where it was to dock and unload its cargo.

Ahead lies Baidi City. Gazing at the towering peaks, many people shouted, "We've arrived at the Three Gorges! We've arrived!" Wu Bingbing was also particularly excited, pressing her face against the porthole to look out repeatedly. As the ship docked, someone on board announced through a loudspeaker: "Passengers from Fengjie, please disembark. Other passengers, please do not disembark without permission. This is not a tourist ship; we are only unloading cargo at the scenic spots and will not stop for sightseeing. Anyone who disembarks without permission will not be waited for; you will be responsible for any missed journeys!"

More than a dozen people disembarked from Fengjie; they were all local vendors. Some carried full baskets, some had large and small bags on their backs, and some pushed piles of boxes on wheelbarrows. Many others were also there to meet the boat and board, all local business people. Some daring tourists quickly ran off the boat to buy some takeaway food and then hurriedly ran back on. The dock was in complete chaos.

Bingbing was engrossed in watching what was happening when she turned around and realized her handbag, which she had left on the wooden bed, was missing. She frantically searched everywhere, calling out. Then she looked over and saw the thin, dark-skinned young man on the next bed was gone. She immediately ran out of the cabin door, to the gangway on the outside of the ship, and saw him carrying her bag off the boat. She shouted, "He stole my bag!" and jumped off the boat, chasing after him.

Seeing he was being chased, the young man didn't run towards the road leading to the dock exit, but instead ran up the mountain on the other side. Bingbing chased after him, shouting, "Give me back my things!" The guy was like a monkey, leaping and spinning through the mountains, climbing up the narrow stone steps to the top. Bingbing lost him and searched everywhere but couldn't find him. Exhausted, she sat down on a rock, panting heavily.

Just then, Peng Lin ran up from the foot of the mountain, panting, and said that he had heard her shout "Stop thief!" and saw her run off the boat, so he followed her, but he didn't expect her to run so fast. Bingbing said dejectedly, "That person got away, and he took my bag." Peng Lin asked how much money was in the bag. Bingbing said there was no money; she had her money and ID on her person. Peng Lin asked if there was anything valuable in the bag. Bingbing said there was a cell phone and a longevity lock. Peng Lin asked what kind of longevity lock. Bingbing said it was a silver lock used by ordinary people. Peng Lin asked if it was an antique. Bingbing said it was more important than an antique; it was a matter of life and death for her. Peng Lin was shocked and said, "Is it that serious? What did the thief look like?" Bingbing said he had a pointed face and a mole on his chin. Peng Lin said, "Don't worry, since the boat has left, I've already asked my uncle to collect your luggage. Then I'll take you to find Lao Hei."

Bingbing asked who Lao Hei was. Peng Lin said he was her uncle's friend, the leader of the thieves in Fengjie. Bingbing asked if he could help her find the longevity lock. Peng Lin said that even the petty thieves listened to him. So, they went down the mountain towards Fengjie City.

Old Hei was a tall, burly, bearded man. The two found him in a small tavern. As soon as they finished explaining, he slapped his thigh, spat on the ground, and cursed, "A mole on his chin? —That son of a bitch, the youngest son of the Guo family! He specializes in smuggling bags on the boat. Last time he smuggled one at my brother's head, damn it, I taught him a lesson!"

Afterwards, Lao Hei took the two of them on an open-top motorcycle to Xiguan. Then they went into a courtyard near the bus station, pointed to the second floor of a tenement building and said to Wu Bingbing, "He lives here. We'll go up and find him. You wait behind this window. Call us when you see him jump out the window to escape."

Just as the two went into the tenement building to look for the thief, they saw him leisurely strolling back from outside as if nothing had happened. He looked up and saw Wu Bingbing, and turned to run in fright. Wu Bingbing said, "Stop!" and shouted again, "He's downstairs!" and immediately gave chase. This time, she was determined not to let him go, chasing him across three streets, through the square in the middle of the city, turning into an alley, and finally catching him in a corner of a construction site. The thief pleaded, "Don't send me to jail, I didn't steal your money. I just sold the phone, I'll give you 100 yuan, okay?" Bingbing said, "I don't want the phone, give me back my longevity lock!" The thief asked, "What longevity lock? Is it that aluminum thing?" Bingbing said yes, give it back and I'll let you go. The thief said, "Are you mistaken? You chased me so desperately just for that thing?" Bingbing said yes, it's very important to me, if you don't give it to me I'll kill you." The thief asked, "What do you want that for?" I emptied my bag and found no money. When I saw that broken thing, I threw it off the cliff.

Wu Bingbing, dragging the thief along, shouted and yelled as they climbed the mountain they had climbed before. They descended the mountain along a bend in the path to the bottom of the ravine to search—and found the longevity lock nestled between two rocks. It was completely mangled. The lockbox was broken, its contents scattered, the two aluminum panels twisted and deformed. The bell was gone, and only a fragment of the chain remained. Holding the broken lock, tears streamed down her face: It's over! The longevity lock is ruined! All her efforts have been in vain. Jiang Lan's vengeful spirit will be beyond redemption; she will continue to kill indiscriminately. Her father will be unable to save her, and many more people will suffer. Thinking of this, she was filled with hatred for the thief before her.

A sudden, overwhelming restlessness surged within her, and an urge for revenge welled up inside her. A voice screamed: Charge! Kill him! Kill him! She picked up a rock and tucked it behind her back, walking straight toward him. The man, who had sprained his ankle while running, was hunched over, tending to the sand. When he looked up and saw her standing there, staring at him, before he could react, the rock came crashing down. He cried out softly and fell. She straddled him, pelting him with stones one after another…

She didn't know how much time had passed when, drenched in sweat, she seemed to wake up, only then noticing the blood on her body and hands, and seeing the blood-stained body lying at her feet. She dropped the stone, her eyes wide with terror, and staggered away. Unexpectedly, Peng Lin arrived at that moment and saw the scene before her. She said to Peng Lin, "Come quickly and help me," and then collapsed into his arms. Peng Lin helped her outside, asking, "Did you kill him?" She said, "No, he rushed at me and fell to his death." Peng Lin was skeptical, asking, "Are you injured?" She showed him her bleeding arms and legs. Peng Lin said, "That's terrible! I'm so glad you're alright. Let's get out of this mess quickly."

Peng Lin half-carried, half-supported her to the hotel, saying, "You should wash up and rest for a while. I'll go find the boat and buy tickets." Before he finished speaking, Wu Bingbing suddenly hugged him and kissed him passionately. Peng Lin was also moved, and the two embraced and kissed wildly. Between kisses, Bingbing said, "You're so good. Thank you for helping me. I like you!" Peng Lin kissed her back and replied, "You're so beautiful! I saw you on the boat, that's why I've been paying so much attention to you!" Bingbing said, "Our luggage is all lost. I really want to stay here and go to Badong with you." Peng Lin was excited and said, "That's wonderful! With a girl as beautiful as you, I'll go wherever you want!" Bingbing said, "I have to go back. I have a lot of things to do. Maybe you can come find me in the south." Then she gave a fake address. Peng Lin said, "I hope you won't leave. After today, I'll think of you often!" They became more and more passionate, rolling around on the bed, clinging to each other's clothes, their bodies intertwined even more tightly, moaning...

The next day, Peng Lin woke up to find the bed empty; the girl from the previous night was gone. He rushed out to look for her, but the hotel staff said she had left early that morning. He hurried to the dock, but there was no one there either—she had obviously already taken a passing ferry. Standing on the deserted dock at the foot of the mountain, he pondered for a long time, but still couldn't understand…

Chapter Twenty-Four

After settling Jiang Lan's old grudges and rescuing her father, Wu Bingbing struggles in the abyss because of the past that the heart held. That heart guides her unconsciously down the path Jiang Lan once walked, gradually becoming the person she once was…

When Wu Bingbing passed through Guangzhou, she visited the antique market on Shangxiajiu Road and found an old silver shop, asking them to repair her longevity lock. An old craftsman received her, repeatedly examining the broken lock and asking her to describe the damaged parts. He consulted a yellowed handmade picture book, asking for her opinion. He finally asked her to come back the next afternoon. When she arrived at the silver shop the following day, the craftsman presented the repaired lock, which looked exactly like the original, except it was a bit shinier. The craftsman explained, "Following the principle of restoring the old to its original state, there's one more step I haven't taken care of. I was worried that if I did it too early, you might think I replaced the old lock." He then brought out a bowl of hydrochloric acid solution, diluted it, and placed the lock inside. After a while, when he took it out, the lock's shine had disappeared, turning a dull gray. He then used a soft cloth dipped in the solution to polish it again, restoring its antique charm and making the longevity lock look as good as before. Wu Bingbing paid 300 yuan for processing, and only had a little money left for travel expenses.

Returning home weary from her journey, her mother saw her daughter's gaunt face, whom she hadn't seen for a month, and held her hand tightly, her heart aching. But Bingbing remained unusually calm, asking a few questions about her father before going into the bathroom. After washing up, she grabbed her bag and left. Her mother asked, "Aren't you going to eat something?" Bingbing said, "I'm not hungry." Her mother said, "Guo Kai came by and said he couldn't reach you." Bingbing said, "I lost my phone," and without saying anything more, hurried out the door. She was going to find Master Hongtai.

Arriving at a small building on a secluded street in the east of the city, she met Master Hongtai, who handed her the longevity lock. The master held the lock in his palm, clasped his hands together in front of his chest, and closed his eyes to listen intently. Then, he opened his eyes and said, "The information inside is too weak!" Bingbing asked worriedly, "Does it still have any effect?" The master said, "It should. Although faint, I can hear its voice and feel the memories stored within." Bingbing's heart eased; she didn't want to tell the master that the longevity lock had been broken.

Master Hongtai said to her, “Alright, give the longevity lock to Jiang Lan first. She will like it and carry it with her. That way, I can use my magic to retrieve her soul.”

Wu Bingbing quickly arrived at the city museum. Standing before the painting "Woman Practicing Yoga" in the art exhibition hall, she said sincerely, "This is your longevity lock, your mother put it on you since you were little. I know how important it is to you. You've searched for it before, and you've told me in your dreams that losing it caused you to lose your true nature, to not find your spiritual home, to be unable to protect yourself, and to suffer repeated physical and mental harm. I know you long to get it back, to find your own memories, to find a place where your soul can rest… Now, I've found it for you, I'm returning it to you, take it!"

The painting made a crackling sound, and the woman in white in the painting turned her face, extending a slender, stick-like hand from within, gently stroking the longevity lock.

"The Longevity Lock! — I've always wanted to find it; it's been my lifelong wish. You've helped me find it, and I'm very satisfied with you. This proves you're willing to listen to me and obey me. In return, I can help you fulfill your wish. What do you want? Tell me?"

"May I make three requests?"

"Tell me! As long as I can do it."

"First, you know, my father is innocent; he didn't kill anyone—"

"Alright, I killed him. I knew you'd bring this up, I'll let him go. Now tell me the second one?"

"Zhang Qun, and her family, are all good people. Please don't hurt them anymore, okay?"

"Hmph, she's just being nosy. She's always trying to influence you and compete with me for you."

"That's not it. She's helping me. She doesn't mean to oppose you."

"Then why did she take you to see the sorcerer? — She thought that with the amulet, I couldn't do anything to her."

I just killed her mother and drove her away from you.

"You set her up to leave, just to scheme against me and manipulate me?"

"I'm just letting you do what you want without being disturbed."

"You ordered me to kill! No wonder I had no choice at the time."

"Stop talking nonsense! I won't kill her again; I no longer have the heart to kill. That's equivalent to agreeing to your request. Now, what's your third request?"

"Don't contact me again, don't try to make me kill anyone, and don't hurt anyone else—"

“Oh, God! You still want to get rid of me? I said I'd only do what I could. This is clearly beyond my capabilities! It's not that I asked you to kill, it's that heart that drives you, and you can't escape that heart—alright, take the longevity lock to my house in the west of the city, and put it on my bed. This painting is where I hide during the day; it can't hide this longevity lock. And I can't possibly put a longevity lock around the neck of the woman in the painting. I really love it!”

Wu Bingbing went to Jiang Lan's house in the west of the city, unlocked the wire-bound door, and went inside. She saw that the gourd vines under the awning in the yard were still lush and green, and the easel still stood there stubbornly. When she pushed open the door and entered the house, she didn't see the terrifying dog, so she headed towards the west room. In the dim light streaming through the window, she saw someone sleeping on the bed again—covered by the sheet, the slightly raised curves clearly those of a woman.

Bingbing timidly approached the bed and called out softly twice, but the person on the bed didn't move. She carefully placed the longevity lock beside the bed. Then, instead of leaving, she mustered her courage and reached out to lift the sheet. A bark rang out behind her, and she jumped aside in fright. The dog had appeared from somewhere, seemingly only to protect the person on the bed. Looking at the person sleeping on the bed, she saw they hadn't moved an inch.

Driven by the dog, Bingbing ran out in fright. Even when she was far from the house, she kept looking back, as if unwilling to give up...

That night, in the police station detention center, in the same cell where Geng Qingshan had been held, was now the notorious bandit Lei Liuhai, a murderer and robber. Dragging his shackles, he shook the iron bars of the gate, shouting incessantly, "Bring me roast chicken and wine! I've killed over a dozen people, I'm going to be shot in a few days, and you won't even let me eat! Let me drink! Bring me wine and meat!"

Suddenly, he stopped shouting, staring blankly at the courtyard, speechless for a long time—because what he saw wasn't the guard's cold face, but a woman with an angelic face smiling at him. The woman gracefully descended from the barbed wire and stood before him, whispering softly, "Big brother, don't you remember me?" Lei Liuhai grinned, "Are you a fairy from heaven?" She said, "I'm not a fairy, I'm the little sister you used to know." Lei Liuhai lewdly said, "Whether you're human or ghost, I've got you today!" Saying that, he pounced on her and embraced her. The woman exhaled her warm, fragrant breath, whispering in his ear like a seductive spell, "Don't be so hasty, close your eyes, press your head against my chest, I'll let you enjoy it slowly. Yes, just like that, I'll take you to a place you've been before, there's a beautiful woman there, you enjoyed yourself with her in bed, after I take you there you'll remember." At that moment, Lei Liuhai felt lightheaded, and followed her out of the dark cell, breathing in the fresh air outside...

Two days later, the whole city was buzzing with news that the notorious thief Lei Liuhai had confessed to several more robberies and murders. It turned out that Lei Liuhai was behind the case in which the bank manager was arrested.

The Southern Herald published a report by Zhang Qun that day, the gist of which was: the case of the murdered female bank employee had been solved, and the implicated bank manager had been acquitted. The report stated that Lei Liuhai confessed to the police about the crime that night, saying that he originally intended to rob someone, but when the female homeowner woke up and cried for help, he was afraid that someone would come to arrest him, so he strangled her to death. He also gave a detailed account of the time and place of the crime, the location of the apartment where the crime occurred, the furnishings in the house, and the approximate age and physical characteristics of the victim, even specifying the brand of beer he drank after opening the refrigerator.

After surviving the ordeal, Director Wu returned home. His hair was almost completely white. Seeing his wife and daughter, he was overwhelmed with emotion, tears welling in his eyes, unable to express his feelings. Bingbing comforted her father for a few moments, then hurriedly left with her bag. Her mother quickly explained that she was very busy and hadn't even had a chance to say a few words to her when she last came home. Her father said understandingly, "Let her go. It's all thanks to her! She's really grown up."

Bingbing went downstairs and out of the apartment complex gate, where she saw Guo Kai standing across the street. He had clearly been waiting for her, and he hurried over, looking somewhat embarrassed. He said with a face full of guilt, "I feel so sorry for you. No matter how much you scold me, I have to come and apologize. The more I think about it, the more I regret it. Can you forgive me?"

Bingbing said disdainfully, "Get lost. We're not a good match. I don't need a man like you!"

After saying that, she hurriedly left, leaving Guo Kai standing there dumbfounded.

Master Hongtai set up the altar and had Wu Bingbing sit cross-legged facing the wall, which was covered by a floor-length black curtain. A circle of white lime was sprinkled around her. A large copper basin, filled with a mixture of blood plasma, sat beneath the black cloth, reflecting light like a mirror. In the flickering candlelight, the master chanted sutras, counting prayer beads. Suddenly, a gust of wind arose, causing her clothes to billow and then fall back down.

As the monk's chanting grew louder, a cloud of black mist appeared in the copper basin. Within the mist, a white, translucent human figure darted left and right, as if being chased. The white figure seemed to be struggling to break free of the black mist; the black and white hues intertwined and rolled together…

Master Hongtai took out a curved-necked bottle from below the platform, filled with holy water for her ritual. She took a sip, then walked ten steps east, ten steps west, and ten steps north and south, placing the bottle in the center of a copper basin. She then spat out the water. The fan-shaped spray, like flames, pierced through the black mist, and painful screams could be heard emanating from within. The master then drew a sword from below the platform and swung it around the copper basin, chanting incantations. The black mist shrunk into a vortex beneath her sword.

"When all things return to one, everything is in order. To live a virtuous life, one should not kill any living beings. Going against the natural order is not advisable."

Yin and Yang are in balance, each in its proper place. Yang energy rises, and turbid energy sinks. To go against this order will surely be punished. Majestic Earth, protected by all gods, all ghosts have departed, restoring peace and tranquility. So be it!

Instantly, the red mist expanded, driving the black mist towards the curved-necked bottle. The red mist enveloped it, tossing it high into the air like a long robe. The black mist seemed powerless to struggle, transforming into a flowing liquid as it landed above the bottle and trying to escape. But the white humanoid figure pulled the black mist away, breaking free. The curved-necked bottle and everything in the room trembled and shook in this struggle, emitting a chaotic and noisy din.

Master Hongtai raised his sword and struck directly at the white humanoid figure. A scream rang out, followed by a shattering of a silver bottle, from which golden liquid flowed in and out. The white humanoid figure emerged from the two split clouds of mist—it was Jiang Lan, her hair disheveled, a longevity lock around her neck, her face filled with terror and rage. She pointed at the master and began to curse him…

"You wretched woman, why are you meddling in other people's business? Why are you trying to harm me?!"

The sorcerer chased after her in the room, sword in hand, chanting incantations as he went: "The four elements are bright, heaven and earth are constant. The mysterious water cleanses impurities, removing misfortune. You have received the longevity lock from your childhood, restoring your fearless and hatredless nature. Now step into the bottle, and I will take you back to where you belong! —"

Jiang Lan was furious, revealing a ferocious expression. Black mist rose from behind her again, enveloping her once more.

She exhaled black smoke filling the room and lunged forward, knocking the sorcerer down. The sorcerer immediately rose and swung his sword, but Jiang Lan quickly dodged. The sorcerer dispersed the smoke and continued his attack, but Jiang Lan hid in the room. There were talismans on the windows and doors to ward off evil, preventing Jiang Lan from escaping.

The sorcerer raised his sword and shouted, "I am the True Celestial Master, commanded to subdue demons! Those who obstruct me shall die! Behold my divine incantation and sword strike, annihilating evil and banishing all ghosts! The Three Heavens' righteous laws will all be as I command! Those who obey my orders, immediately submit, or you will all be executed!"

Jiang Lan suddenly leaped behind the sorcerer, extending her sharp claws to grab her. The sorcerer felt a sharp pain, turned around, and swung her sword fiercely, striking Jiang Lan. The black mist, like severed garments, fell from Jiang Lan's body. The sorcerer used her longsword to pick them up and put them into a bottle.

Seeing the large pool of blood on the mage's back, Bingbing stood up to help, but the mage pushed her away. Bingbing grabbed a nearby wooden stick and attacked Jiang Lan, protecting the mage from behind. The mage, enduring excruciating pain, continued her attack, repeatedly striking Jiang Lan. The black mist covering her body was completely cut away, leaving only her translucent white form. Jiang Lan cried out, swelling into a massive body again, but becoming as limp as cotton. A fatal stab from the mage's sword sent her sprawling. The mage shouted again, "Quickly, bring the bottle to subdue her!" Just as Bingbing stood up, Jiang Lan lunged at her. She was knocked down heavily and immediately lost consciousness.

The sorceress couldn't find Jiang Lan in the room. She picked up the curved-neck bottle, peered inside, and then sealed the opening. She checked the doors and windows; they were intact, except for one window with a crack. Just as she was wondering if Jiang Lan had escaped through there, she saw Wu Bingbing wake up, mouth open but unable to speak, pointing to her chest and gasping for breath. The sorceress quickly opened the window and turned to fetch water. Instantly, a white light flashed out and flew out of the open window. The sorceress drew her sword to give chase, but it was too late.

The monk fed Bingbing two sips of water from the bowl, and she finally caught her breath and said weakly, "She just crawled into my body and hid in my heart. I'm in so much pain that I can't speak."

The monk calmly said, "I have already collected six of her seven souls and six spirits; it was they who committed the evil deeds and killed. Although she escaped, those wandering souls that cannot be gathered together will not pose much of a threat in the short term. I truly do not understand why the longevity lock did not gather all of her souls together?"